Professional Growing Information I’ve grown these in my balcony rectangular railing planters for the last two seasons, and I just love them so much! This year with the milder weather, they kept blooming from shortly after planting in the early spring until late November when we had several days in a row of hard frost. They are a hit with bees, other pollinators, and hummingbirds. They’re not as tall and vigorous as the Rockin’ salvia, which is a good thing for smaller containers. Last season, I staked stems individually as needed when they started getting pretty tall, but this year I found they really benefited from using half-round plant stakes on the sunny side of my west facing covered balcony. I didn’t even notice the stakes after the plants grew in a bit, and it was much neater and lower maintenance. I planted them with a colorful mounding lantana on either side, and a trailing lantana in the front, and they make my balcony a real showstopper every year! I also really enjoy the birds and pollinators they attract!
Unplugged® So Blue™ Mealycup Sage Salvia farinacea
- Part Sun to Sun
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- Fall
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Details
14 - 24 Inches10 - 14 Inches12 - 16 Inches36cm - 61cm25cm - 36cm30cm - 41cmFeatures
True blue flowers on mid-sized plants that love heat, don't mind humidity and will bloom non-stop for months. A good sized plant, but not too large. It is right-sized for containers and good for use in landscapes as well.
Award WinnerContinuous Bloom or RebloomerLong BloomingFall InterestHeat TolerantDeadheading Not NecessaryDrought TolerantAttracts:BeesButterfliesHummingbirdsResists:DeerCharacteristics
Plant Type:AnnualHeight Category:MediumGarden Height:14 - 24 Inches 36cm - 61cmSpacing:10 - 14 Inches 25cm - 36cmSpread:12 - 16 Inches 30cm - 41cmFlower Colors:BlueFlower Shade:True BlueFoliage Colors:GreenFoliage Shade:Silvery GreenHabit:UprightContainer Role:ThrillerPlant Needs
Light Requirement:Part Sun to SunThe optimum amount of sun or shade each plant needs to thrive: Full Sun (6+ hours), Part Sun (4-6 hours), Full Shade (up to 4 hours).
Maintenance Category:EasyBloom Time:Planting To Hard FrostHardiness Zones:8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10bWater Category:AverageSoil Fertility Requirement:Average SoilSoil Fertility Requirement:Poor SoilUses:Border PlantUses:ContainerUses:LandscapeUses:Mass PlantingUses Notes:A great plant for attracting pollinators. It works equally well in landscapes and containers and blooms for weeks on end.
Maintenance Notes:This is a wonderful annual Salvia (except in frost free zones), compact and richly colored, it is easy and trouble free. It will just bloom, and bloom and bloom all season without stopping.
You can easily trim to keep the shape or size where you want it, and it will branch out and become even thicker and more full of flowers. Although that should not be necessary.
Regular watering and fertilizing will keep the plant at maximum color and growth but it is amazingly tough and once established in a pot or the garden will tolerate lower levels of food and water. However, severe drought will cause lower leaves to drop and if this happens give it a quick haircut removing the upper 1/3 of growth and once it back to normal watering it will fill back in.
It is a big attractor of bees! They love the sweet nectar in the flowers, so place it accordingly; a bit farther from seating areas if bees are a concern. It is always great to have a plant that will support our native bees!!
Unplugged® So Blue™ Salvia farinacea 'G14251' USPP 32,695, Can 6,537 -
6 Reviews
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35 Awards
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3 More colors
